Today, State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, Senate Chair of the Committee on Special Education, welcomed news that she earned an A from the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) during the 2025 legislative session. CEA is the largest union of certified educators in the state and work as strong advocates for students, teachers and public education.
Some of the legislation Senator Gadkar-Wilcox supported to receive this grade include:
HB 7287 – The biennial budget passed this year increases ECS funding that holds towns harmless, expands special education funding, procedures for book challenges in public and school libraries and more.
SB 1 – this priority piece of legislation for the Senate Democrat caucus included multiple initiatives, including the establishment of a universal pre-K endowment, special education enhancement grants, outlining IEP support staff, local budget transparency reporting & more.
SB 1513 – Expanding aspiring educator scholarships, certification alternative assessments and more.
HB 5001 – expanding special education grants and strengthening special education policies in Connecticut.
As Senate Chair of the Committee on Special Education, Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox worked closely on several important proposals in both Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 5001, and worked to secure $60 million in Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grants over the next two years, as well as $120 million in special education reimbursement grants for municipalities. Special education, while critical to the well-being of students and families across Connecticut, the costs can be considerable and unpredictable. This extra funding will provide essential funding for schools and significant relief for local property taxpayers.
“This was my first legislative session and I am so proud of what my colleagues and I accomplished, particularly with regard to education,” said Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox. “As a product of public education and an educator myself, this A from CEA means a lot to me. We built a strong foundation in this last session, but there is more work ahead and I look forward to continuing to be a strong advocate for teachers, students, parents and our local school districts.”
To read Senator Gadkar-Wilcox’s full grading breakdown, click here.
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